Malawian Airlines Joins Q400 Aircraft Family as the 15th Operator in Africa

Bombardier Aerospace welcomed today Malawian Airlines of Lilongwe, Malawi, to its family of operators, following the airline’s introduction to service of a Q400 NextGen turboprop last month. As the 15th operator of the most successful turboprop in Africa, Malawian Airlines has launched domestic and international flights with a dual-class Q400 NextGen aircraft acquired from co-owner Ethiopian Airlines.

Founded in July 2013, Malawian Airlines is a public-private partnership between the Government of Malawi, Ethiopian Airlines and Malawian institutional and individual investors.

“The dual-class configured Q400 NextGen aircraft is fitting in perfectly as we look to provide affordable and convenient air transport solutions to business and leisure travelers. With its outstanding performance – including its high speed and long-range cruise capability – we are keen to expand further over the next few months as our business plans grow to include new markets in the region, as well as higher frequencies,” said Kassim Geresu, Chief Executive Officer, Malawian Airlines.

“Furthermore, with the high costs of fuel, the fast, fuel-efficient Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner is the most cost-effective and flexible regional aircraft solution for our operations,” added Mr. Geresu.

“We are thrilled to welcome and congratulate Malawian Airlines as it commences its operations with the Q400 aircraft which has thrived in Africa largely due to the quality of operators utilizing the aircraft to open growth markets and new opportunities,” said Mike Arcamone President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We are honored to have Malawian Airlines as the 15th African operator and that it is inaugurating its operations in one of the most fruitful markets the Q400 aircraft has ever seen. Africa is a showcase for the Q400 aircraft where it demonstrates unparalleled performance and success with the many customers and operators on the continent.”

About Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraftQ400 and Q400 NextGen turboprops are the advanced successors to Bombardier’s Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Optimized for short-haul operations, the “comfortably greener” Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprops that provide an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.

Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 486 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 295 million passengers and have logged over 4.7 million flight hours and more than 5 million take-offs and landings. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft program includes over 50 customers and operators in over 30 countries on five continents.

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Notes to Editors

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Images of Q400 NextGen aircraft in Malawian Airlines’ livery are posted with this press release at www.bombardier.com.